How to manage your guestbook settings.
If you're looking for some help managing the settings on your guestbooks and approving comments, you're in the right place!
[Mailbox image used under Creative Commons from mrjoro.]
First, set up a guestbook module
Here are the default settings in a guestbook module

Then, decide which options you want
- Who do you want commenting?
You can choose to let anyone (yup, ANYone) comment on your lens, or restrict it only to Squidoo members who are logged in. (If you let anyone comment, you can't ban blurbers who aren't logged in.) - When should their blurbs be approved?
If you select "right away," the blurbs will show up on lenses (almost) immediately after they are posted. If you select "ask me first" you'll need to approve each comment manually, either from the lens or the My Comments tab in your dashboard. - Send you an approval email for pending blurbs?
If you select "yup," you'll receive an email each time a blurb is posted to one of your guestbooks. If you select "nope," you'll need to log in to check for blurbs. - How many blurbs per page?
This just lets you set the number of blurbs that will show at one time. The most recent blurbs will display, but never fear! Older ones can still be accessed and read. - Show commenter photos (thumbnails)?
This allows you to say "yup" or "nope" to showing the lensmaster avatar next to each blurb. - Strip all HTML out of blurbs?
If you're worried about spammers, setting this to "yup" is one way to make sure links don't fill up your guestbook.
So let's say someone leaves you a comment....

If you have it set to approve "right away," it will instantly appear on your guestbook like this.
Here's what an email notification looks like.

If you want us to send an email letting you know you have a new comment, it will look something like this.
Process a blurb on your lens

You can process a blurb on your lens by clicking on the link to your workshop (if you have it set up to send you email notifications), or by going directly to the workshop (edit page) of your lens.
When you edit the module, you'll see something like this. From here you can approve or decline the message.
Process a blurb from your dashboard

You can process a blurb from your dashboard by logging into your account, and clicking on the My Comments tab on your dashboard.
You'll see something like this, and from here you can approve or decline the comment, and see which lens it was blurbed on.
Someone post duplicate blurbs?
Not a big deal. Just approve one and delete the other.
Delete a pending blurb

To delete a pending blurb, click the "decline" button. You'll see this to the right of the blurb on your My Comments tab, or under it if you're editing the guestbook module from your lens.
Delete a post that's already been approved

If your guestbook has been set to automatically post blurbs, or you've changed your mind, you can delete messages from your lens. (Nope, can't do it from your dashboard.)
Log into your account, go to the edit page for your lens, and click "edit" to manage your guestbook module. Then click "Show Current Blurbs."
There's a "delete" link next to each blurb, so you can delete them at will. But remember, delete is forever.
What happens when you ban a lensmaster?
You can only ban a lensmaster from posting in your guestbooks if they are logged in. Banning a lensmaster keeps them from ever posting in your guestbooks again, so be sure! If the same lensmaster is banned too many times, he or she will be banned from posting in ANY guestbook on Squidoo. Your turn!
Leave a message after the beep.
Wait for it...
BEEP!
Ramkitten wrote...
Hi, Kimberly. I wanted to thank you for YOUR comment in one of my guestbooks today. It's been a great day for me here at Squidoo, and I thank you for making it so with the LOTD pick. It really feels like I've been validated, you know? And I must say, I'm definitely thankful for guestbooks! :)
pepys wrote...
This lens is a life saver -there I was with a few comments on my lens and hand no idea how to approve. Thanks you helped me sort it out.
SquidooKimberly wrote...
in reply to promart No, there isn't an option for this. Sorry!
promart wrote...
how do you delete your own comments on other people's lenses? Is it possible? I neeed to do this asap.
JaguarJulie wrote...
Wow, I surely love how we can share our guestbooks as modules! That is a very neat view of the comments for a lens. And, might I add, it is wonderful to have you on board the traveling squid. Thank you Kimberly!
by 48 people |

